Cleckheaton Writers Group (CWG) met last night with Karen, Gemma, Dali and Kathy in attendance, Cassie, Michelle and Alice having passed on their apologies.
The minutes from the previous meeting were passed.
WIP updates: Karen has had a full MS request from Bookouture following #DBPITCHBOOKOUTURE and has applied for an editorial assistant position at Cornerstones. Kathy has been working on the ordinary world sections for Mrs Dunstan, Earl, Adrian and Jane for her Tobias MS rewrite and brought along some sections to share. Dali has written a poem and a dribble.
CW comps/workshops/events: The NYC Short Story Challenge is open and Huddersfield Literature Festival have announced some more of their upcoming events including one for flash fiction: Workshop – Flash Fiction • Huddersfield Literature Festival (huddlitfest.org.uk)
Feedback sessions: Kathy shared three ordinary world sections for her Tobias MS, all of which were well received. The first was for Adrian and Jane which members thought foreshadowed well and made us care about the characters. It was suggested that Kathy make the tongue in cheek sarcasm of the loving banter between the couple more obvious, tone down the unlucky life Jane's friend has had and take out critically as it is not needed when the conversation makes this apparent. The second section was from Earl's point of view and it was suggested that he converses more to the photograph of his wife to avoid the scene becoming too telling. This led to a discussion and it was decided it would work well to turn the day around and have him coming home from work, rather than leaving for work. It was felt this makes a good mirror for the two scenes showing the togetherness Jane has in her relationship and the loneliness of Earl. The third scene was of Mrs Dunstan who lives in the flat below Tobias which has some good comedy and showed her character well with dialogue. It was felt that some of her inner thoughts could be better shown with a mobile call to her son to avoid telling the reader things that foreshadow events and make it an active scene. This will also give a good foil and nod to Mrs Dunstan using the mobile to call her son in later scenes. It was suggested that when she looks out the window she could see the lorry Earl is driving as it subtly links the two characters ahead of their meeting as Earl lives not far from Mrs Dunstan and could conceivably drive past her house numerous times a week.
Dali shared a poignant dribble which members felt evoked memories like the ghost of someone. She also shared a poem about her dog that led to a discussion on the supernatural.
Writing plans: Karen will be on holiday so has no firm writing plans. Gemma will be editing. Dali will be writing a dribble or drabble. Kathy will be working on her Tobias MS and hopes to send some writing in for consideration for the CWG anthology.
The writing challenge theme for January is New beginnings/New you. Suggestions are welcomed for the February theme.
The next meeting will take place on Monday 6 February 2023 at 5.30pm at Cleckheaton Library. New members always welcome.
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